The Nature and the Basics of Punitive Damage and Similar Legal Institutions in Iranian Jurisprudence and Law

Regarding civil responsibility, there is an institution called “punitive damage” in the laws of some countries, according to which in cases where the losses are caused intentionally and bearing ill will, the defendant is judged to pay more than just material and spiritual losses for the damage. Since we didn’t have such an institution in Iranian private law, it is of necessity to study and investigate whether to accept it in the Iranian law. The present research aimed at determining the status of this type of damage in the Iranian jurisprudence and law in order to answer whether it is necessary to recognize punitive damage in Iranian private law. This research uses a descriptive-analytical method and note-takings of the national and foreign books and articles are done through library research. Due to criticisms of punitive damage and considering the fact that there are similar legal institutions such as consideration, blood money, and general principles governing civil responsibility, it seems there is no need, for the Iranian national law, to accept this legal institution. The approval of the Act of the Jurisdiction of the Iranian Judiciary on punitive damage claims against foreign states is considered only as a reciprocity act against some foreign states and it should not be regarded as an accepted institution in the Iranian private and internal law.